Print & Mobile Phones: QR Codes, NFC Square Off

The willingness to throw these two technologies into the ring has more to do with the public's discontent due to a poor perception of QR codes than anything. QR codes have fallen from favor because of poor construction, misuse and inadequate marketing campaigns.

On the flip side, NFC is not fully prepared to challenge QR codes. Very few people currently have an NFC-equipped phone. (In 2008, Jupiter Research predicted that up to 700 million NFC-enabled mobile phones will be sold in 2013.) Other challenges such as cost reduction and security must be sorted, and will—in time.